Thymic function can be accurately monitored by the level of recent T cell emigrants in the circulation.
Expression of the avian chT1 thymocyte antigen persists on a subpopulation of peripheral T cells enriched in the DNA deletion circles created by alphabeta and gammadelta TCR gene rearrangements. The chT1+ cells are evenly distributed among all of the peripheral T lymphocyte compartments. The levels of chT1+ T cells in the periphery gradually decline in parallel with age-related thymic involution, and these cells disappear following early thymectomy. Experiments in which variable numbers of the 14 thymic lobes are removed in young chicks indicate a direct correlation between the levels of circulating chT1+ cells and residual thymic mass. Measurement of recent thymic emigrants in the periphery thus provides an accurate indication of thymic function.
Kong
F
F
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-3300, USA.
Chen
C H
CH
Cooper
M D
MD
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D019672:Genes, T-Cell Receptor; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*
D018800:Thy-1 Antigens